The border conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) ended here on Thursday where delegations from both sides agreed to prevent transnational crimes, enhance border security and ensure better border management.

Both sides have agreed to curb drug smuggling, illegal arms trading, women and child trafficking as well as all other crimes by initiating joint-border patrol, increasing surveillance in bordering areas and continuous communication among field-level commanders of the two countries, reports the UNB.

Additional Director General (operation and training) of BGB Brig Gen Mujibur Rahman briefed journalists about the outcome of the 4-day border conference at Pilkhana BGB headquarters here in the morning.

The two sides also agreed to exchange information relating to border crimes immediately, Brig Gen Mujibur Rahman said after signing a Joint Record of Discussion (JRD).

The delegations discussed pre-fixed agenda elaborately in a friendly environment, BGB official told journalists.

They expressed deep concern and anxieties over the drug smuggling, especially Yaba pills, he said.

Mentioning the ill-effects of Yaba on the young generation of the two countries, the meeting agreed to cooperate with each other in preventing drug smuggling.

Saying that the same drug-related problem was prevailing among their young generation, the Myanmar side agreed to continue their efforts to prevent Yaba smuggling. ‘Both sides have agreed to continue joint-patrolling along the border,’ said the BGB official while briefing.

The Bangladesh side expressed deep concern over the issues of border trespassing, firing on the border and also requested the Myanmar side to maintain peace and stability along the border and also take necessary steps to stop those.

In reply, the Myanmar side assured Bangladesh that necessary steps have been taken to stop the occurrences, said Brig Gen Mujibur Rahman.

BGB Additional Director General Brig Gen Md Anisur Rahman led the 15-member Bangladesh delegation, while 11-member Myanmar delegation was led by its Chief of Police General Staff Police Brigadier General Myo Than.

Border security issues, including prevention of smuggling of illegal drugs, especially, Yaba pills, firing at frontiers by BGP and Myanmar Army, trespass into Bangladesh territory by Myanmar nationals, operating Myanmar military helicopter and drone at bordering areas, removing landmine or Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from zero line of the border, setting up of Border Liaison Office, implementation of development activities in frontiers and steps for increasing mutual cooperation as well as confidence were in the agenda of the border talks.